Written by Matt_G-Freebody for FootballFancast.com: The game against Real Madrid last Wednesday evening for Tottenham Hotspur was a strange one. Although they were 4-0 down from the 1st leg which would’ve had a major disadvantage on their mental preparation, the Spurs players seemed to give the Madrid players too much respect. But the Spurs crowd were incredible, making White Hart Lane a boombox of momentum that seemed to give the Tottenham players a kick up the backside in order to at least try and score a few goals.
Perhaps there was too much damage done from the previous leg, 4 goals down against superior opposition meant that a 5-0 victory was too much to ask for and it looked like most of the Tottenham players believed this. Now their Champions League honeymoon is officially over, the questions are starting to be asked if they will date Europe’s premier competition again next season?
Currently 5th in the Premier League, 3 points behind 4th placed Manchester City, there are a few anxieties over whether this Tottenham team can qualify for the Champions League, especially if they want to progress into Europe’s elite competitors.
Having the weekend off should do the Spurs players some good, giving them time to rest and reflect on the Madrid games whilst also giving them more time to prepare for the North London derby against Arsenal on Wednesday evening. A victory would see them level on 56 points with City, but despite keeping them 5th on goal difference, the fixture against the Manchester club in May should see the 4th place decided much like last season.
However, a defeat to their rivals on Wednesday would see Spurs’ Champions League ambitions take a huge blow and more people will be wondering where the future lies if the club fail to finish in the top four come the end of the season.
Chairman, Daniel Levy, made comments about streamlining the Tottenham squad in last year’s half-year accounts that went up to the 31st December 2010. His main concern was that the club have had one of the largest squads in the Premier League and it had contributed to the club making a substantial growth in costs. Will the squad be depleted if they finish 5th after game 38 this season?
With Gareth Bale’s impressive performances, especially the hat-trick at the San Siro against Inter Milan, he has now made a name for himself on the world stage. Despite signing a new contract until 2015, even manager Harry Redknapp said that a record breaking transfer bid would make the club consider selling him, but keeping Bale would be essential to the club progressing.
Although the streamlining relates to squad size, rather than the need to sell their best players, could the players themselves want to leave if there is no Champions League football next season? Despite the likes of Bale, and other impressive stars like Luka Modric gaining their first real experience of the competition, they do possess the personality types that would want to leave at the first sign of failure.
However, despite Spurs finishing 4th last season and their impressive performances in Europe this season, whilst also staying in the fight for a top four spot this year, it’s been made clear that the side need to improve the squad. Manager Harry Redknapp has stressed that the squad needs more depth but failed to make any signings in January other than Steven Pienaar from Everton.
But with the comments made by Levy in last year’s accounts, would Harry be given a chance to improve the squad with no Champions League income next season? He may have to do it on the cheap and make the shrewd signings like the one that took William Gallas to White Hart Lane on a free transfer.
A more extreme option would be to cash in on the likes of Gareth Bale or Luka Modric and use the transfer money to increase the squad depth, however this option sounds improbable given the current climate of the transfer market in world football. Finding a bargain buy is harder than ever, even Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger have commented on how over valued players are in football today.
If Spurs do finish 4th then the talks of streamlining the squad will be thrown by the wayside, with the income the illustrious competition brings in, Harry Redknapp will be allowed to sell any deadwood in the squad and make additions that will make them stronger for the likes of Real Madrid next year.
However, if they don’t make it into the top four then Harry will have a tough time ahead. Especially if Manchester City qualify in their place and are likely to improve their squad in the summer, along with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, finishing in the top four in years to come will harder than it ever has been.
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